Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-06-08
THE SCOUTING r
BY w. II. FALL.

"Lieutenant Ware will report with a de-
tachment at Kentucky Division Hospital
for special duty. j. WALKER,
"Maior Commanding Scouts"
Having repaired to the point designated,
l vas greeted by the Major with, How
many men mountedf"
Twenty seven?"
@Do You or any Of the men know the
country to the right Of General Bragg's
position?"
"No; but Major McCann has n battalion
Of Tennesseans on the right, and his boys
are familiar with every path between Mar-
freesbOrO and the Cumberland River. No
doubt he will gladly favor you with q CON-
petent guide"
"Take your men out by way of the
Lewisburg pike. l will see Major McCann
and request that he will send q party to-
ward u right front. Go as far as you
can with safety around our left wing.
You had better report to Colonel Allen, to
let him know your object, and give him
the signals, lest you should encounter Q
detachment from his command"
II should be mention that Colonel Allen
had, in command Of his own regiment, a
battalion commanded by Major Alexander,
and two or three detached companies lately
found IN Kentucky, posted his men on our
extreme left front.
Learn what movements are in progress,
and note as well the whereabouts of the
enemy's wagon train. We have informa-
ton that General Rosecrans has retired his
wagon train to the north Of the Cumber-
land. Ascertain what measures are afoot for
supplying the enemy-whether the supply
trains are heavily guarded, and whether
artillery and munitions are being brought
forward from Nashville.
SHOULD favorable opportunity present,
report to Colonel Allen; but don't rashly
"Do you see notwithstanding ZONE OF
hand, and pointing to piles of lint and
other hospital appliances with his saber-
"better these than capture!
Il will expect you to report by six a. m.
tomorrow. Ride"
Thus instructed and left to my own re-
sources, but little time elapsed before we
were we'll IN the road, moving at a good
round pace, AZ our horses were now fresh
and ready TO 20.
Still they were kept we'll in hand, for we
know that ell their strength and courage
would be called into requisition before the
morrow's dawn.
Colonel Aliens bivouac was located but
. short distance rearward Of the position
held by him In the morning. while his
videttes were posted we'll in advance.
After . short conference with Colonel
Allen, during which it was arranged that he
should hold two companies in readiness ITO
meet contingencies" We left his quarters,
passed the vidcttes we'll to the north Of his
position, and made q wide detour to the
left That We might not encounter Q scout
ing party detailed by the enemy, and thus
p~rematurely uncover our movement.
That our advance might not be exposed
70 detection, great care was necessary,
since any noise would betrAy u presence.
To avoid this two we'll mounted, eau
tious men were sent some distance In ad-
vance. with instructions to keep parallel
with the turnpike, and at about two hun.
Of Mr.. Brown was reached.
At this place . seconed dirt road led
across the turnpike and into and through
Mr.. Browns Enclosures on the east.
Upon reaching this cross-road We learned
that "a company Of Federal cavalry had
been there . short time before, but 1t had
retired to the north on the approach Of
daSkness.
To be assured that our progress would
mot be intercepted, i've dism0unted men
wers led 70 the point so recently occupied
by the enemy, and thence along the turn
pike one-hslf mile further northward.
Upon finding that the enemy had been
so far withdrawn 40 to permit our advance,
We crossed the Lewisburg turnpike, and
quietly picked our way toward the rear Of
the enemy's right wing.
Now still greater caution became noces-
sary: and, 70 avoid encounter with stray
glers and rowing "contrabands"-howeve
intelligent-we followed the natural de-
pressions which tended toward the small
creeks which in food-tim poured their
f~ullness into the Cumberland River.
Frequent halts were made, that we might
carefully observe each hilltop In front Of
US, a. we'll as 10 listen for hoof- strokes or
other indications Of the enemy's presence.
The heavens were overcast with threat
ening clouds, and every sign promised q
heavy rainfall at an early hour.
II We can gain the turnpike which
leads from Nashville 10 Triune before the
rain begins, We may hope FOR the accom-
plishmeDt OF our mission in time to retire
from our p~erilous position to q Of COM
ITO report at six O'Clock In the morning"
Remember these" 0the surgeons instru.
ments) "are better than capture"
We did mot 60 there to be captured,
consequently every precaution for the
avoidance OF such catastrophe was closely
Observed.
At about eight hundred yards from on
present position ran the pike which We de-.
sired to reach.
From this point We might return; for, X
cross the turnpike would result only in in.
tsnsifyinR The danger Of on position, . ~
would mot only b required TO continue
guard against meeting rowing bodies OF thu
enemy, but NJ must also b doubly careful
against e~ncounterine the troops which
would y sent around Rosecsans' lsft IN.
~ Major McCann.